Honestly, Ive tried many zooms over the years and shooting in Iceland means you need versatility and decent sealing. Dont get stuck on the Sony brand name alone... the third party glass is just as good now for way less cash.

• Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is my top pick. Its sharper than the Sony 24-105 and that f/2.8 is clutch if you catch the aurora.
• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is the real budget king. Youll save like $500 which is huge for travel costs.
• Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is okay for reach, but the tech is getting a bit old. In my experience, the Sigma gives you the best optical quality for the price. If you go with the Tamron, use the leftover money for a solid polarizer. Youll definitely need that for the glaciers and the sea spray.

Re: "> Budget is $1400... do I go 24-105..." - honestly, before you pull the trigger, are you planning on doing much night shooting or mostly day landscapes? Iceland is so epic but that light changes fast... just curious if you need that f/2.8 for the aurora or if youre a tripod-at-night kinda person. I did a trip to some coastal cliffs last year and thought I needed the reach of a 105mm, but I actually found myself wishing for more width for the scale of it all! I eventually grabbed the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G and its been fantastic for those massive vistas. It fits your budget perfectly and its way lighter than the older zooms. Plus that 20mm vs 24mm is a massive difference in the field. Quick tips for the trip:

• Bring way more microfiber cloths than you think... waterfall spray is constant.
• Dont change lenses outside! The wind there carries some crazy fine volcanic sand that gets everywhere. If you want to save some cash and keep it light, maybe look at the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. Its super tiny and leaves you plenty of money for a nice dinner in Reykjavik!

> Budget is $1400... do I go 24-105 or 24-70? I love it! Honestly, go for the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS because that extra reach is fantastic for distant waterfalls! The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is amazing for low light, but I always worry about dust or moisture getting in... the Sony is just so reliable and safe. Or check out Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for versatility, tho the Sony is sharper!

Honestly the way lens prices have skyrocketed while build quality has arguably tanked is just ridiculous. These manufacturers keep charging a premium for weather sealing that amounts to a tiny rubber ring and some marketing fluff... it drives me crazy. In my experience, shooting in harsh environments like Iceland exposes how flimsy modern lens barrels actually are once they get a bit of grit or moisture in the zoom mechanism. Its a total scam how much we pay for gear that feels like it might snap if the wind blows too hard. Before I give you a real breakdown tho, I need to know what body youre shooting on. Are we talking about an A7R series with massive resolution or a standard A7? The MTF requirements for those high-res sensors change the math completely on whether these mid-range zooms are even worth the investment for a once in a lifetime trip.